Residents in parts of California have been told to brace themselves for a potentially life-threatening blizzard. The National Weather Service said the severe winter storm which has been hammering the West coast is expected to continue through to the end of the week. A blizzard warning has been put in effect for areas above 6,500 feet for January 17. Heavy snowfall is also forecast in areas above 5,500 feet, with as much as six feet of snow expected to fall in some of the higher areas.